Reefer2 wrote:Garrison is 15 lbs heavierHad 127 hits in 77 games while Ehrhoff had 47 in 66 games and probably half of those we mistakes when he skated the wrong way.

I also like the Hamhuis/Bieksa as the top pairing, Edler needs to get his game back and playing on the 2nd line with a big hitter like Garrison will really help him. The 2 of them will be knocking all the forwards on their arses through out the season.

I don't see where people are getting the impression that Garrison is a big hitter.

His # of hits is respectable (46th amoung NHL Dmen), but what I've read/seen doesn't show the big hit threat. Garrison's hip checks are rare.

A necessary signing but at the end of the day are we any more of a contender than we were the past two seasons? Of course it's way too early to ask that question with the whole summer ahead of us but given our "window" I'm hoping our management team is looking for the home run. Perhaps that home run is a culmination of a number of moves starting with this one. I'm not even gonna guess what is realistic to expect from the Luongo deal but all indications are we're swinging for the fences and that's the right approach.

Maybe a gamble but less of one than signing Schultz. For all we know, Schultz could end up to be another Fabian Brunstrom and while his cap hit is negligible, if we had signed him it probably would have left Garrison for some other team to pick up. Let's wait to see what this means. Too hard to speculate at this point but I do prefer the player who wants to come home over the one who doesn't.

No gamble at all signing Schultz.

He's on a mandatory 2 way deal so if he "ends up another Fabian Bunstrom" you just send him down.

Reefer2 wrote:Garrison is 15 lbs heavierHad 127 hits in 77 games while Ehrhoff had 47 in 66 games and probably half of those we mistakes when he skated the wrong way.

I also like the Hamhuis/Bieksa as the top pairing, Edler needs to get his game back and playing on the 2nd line with a big hitter like Garrison will really help him. The 2 of them will be knocking all the forwards on their arses through out the season.

As has been mentioned by others, Garrison isn't a punishing d-man.

His physicality is similar to Willie Mitchell's, minus some of the snarl. Although Mitchell throws less hits than Garrison, Willie is is more likely to get involved in the rough stuff.

Compared to Ehrhoff, yes, Garrison is bigger and far more physical, but the comparison in terms of versatility for a top 4 d-man that has a fairly well rounded game works.

Obviously there are some dissenting views on this signing, and I've heard some elsewhere critique the move by saying Garrison isn't anything more than a 4-5 D-man.

Well, as of right now, Garrison is stepping in to the the #4 role on this blueline. That's quite different from say someone like Wideman joining the Flames as their likely #2.

It's all about the role a player will be in when he joins a team. Garrison is just another piece to the defensive puzzle, instead of being a top-pairing cornerstone....unless he develops into that, at which point the contract will look even better.

Garrison and I believe Weaver were the guys the Panthers used in shut down roles the last two years. I'm comfortable with him on the second pairing getting the easier draw behind Hamhuis. It'll be a reduced role from what he's used to and more likely to excel.

Southern_Canuck wrote:I hope Garrison can play the right side better than the Canucks' other left-shot D --- if he can, this looks like a solid signing.S_C

He played the right side for most of last season

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sauve or even Connauton stick with the big team this season, so I don't think the Canucks will look to sign more defencemen, unless it is a Sulzer-like tweener.

Yuck.

I don't think either guy is capable of giving reliable 3rd pairing minutes and Andrew Alberts is also a big question mark especially when things crank up in the playoffs. They really need another guy who can play in the 7 spot, or they will likely have to make a move at the deadline IMO.

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On a side note I'm getting a real kick out of the talking heads on the radio today comparing the Garrison signing to the Salo deal.....

They Keep talking about Salo like he's still the player he was a few years ago. It's almost like they missed last season where Salos play started great but was on the steady decline all year to the point where he looked like an old man in the playoffs.

Sami Salo was a great Canuck but he is no longer a top4 defenseman. If the Canucks had brought him back to do anything other then play on their 3rd pairing it would have been a big mistake IMO.

I have a funny feeling that if one of our D prospects makes the leap this it will be Frank Corrado. I think he's a real gem and can can actually play his position and keep goals out of the net, which is K-Conn's giant fault right now.

Groovypippin wrote:I have a funny feeling that if one of our D prospects makes the leap this it will be Frank Corrado. I think he's a real gem and can can actually play his position and keep goals out of the net, which is K-Conn's giant fault right now.

Isn't Corrado going back to Jr. next season?

He's a 2011 CHL pick, usually that means 2 years with his Jr team before he's eligible to play in the AHL.